You can know all the parenting tools…
and still feel completely lost in your own house.

If you’ve ever thought:

“Why is my child exploding over something so small?”
“I’m doing respectful parenting — why isn’t it working?”
“Why does it feel like everything turns into a power struggle?”

This episode is for you.

Today we’re talking about what might be happening underneath those zero-to-a-thousand reactions — especially if your child seems to overreact to everyday demands like washing hands, turning off screens, or leaving the house.

We’re unpacking:

• Why some kids experience normal requests as nervous system threat

• What PDA (Persistent Demand for Autonomy) actually means — in real life, not clinical jargon

• Why aggression can be a stress response, not defiance

• What “equalizing behavior” looks like at home

• And how understanding your child’s wiring can protect the relationship instead of escalating power struggles

If you’ve been blaming yourself…
If you’ve been wondering why the scripts don’t work…
If you feel like you’re missing something but don’t know what —

You’re not failing.

You might just need a different lens.

This episode won’t give you quick fixes.
It will give you clarity.
And sometimes clarity is what allows everything else to shift.

You can be exhausted.
And still be the safest place your child lands.

Press play when you’re ready. 🤎

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“Be the bigger person” sounds emotionally mature… but for a lot of us, it actually taught self-silencing, freezing, and resentment.

In this episode, we’re unpacking why staying calm isn’t the same thing as being regulated, how freeze gets mistaken for maturity, and why the pressure-yes always turns into snapping later. Especially for moms, cycle-breakers, and anyone who grew up managing other people’s emotions.

If you’re usually the calm one — until you explode and don’t recognize yourself — this episode will help you understand what’s really happening in your nervous system and how to start naming discomfort earlier, without becoming confrontational or harsh.

Full show notes

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If you’re realizing you don’t even know your default stress response (freeze, fawn, fight, or flight), check out the free nervous system style quiz.
And if your snapping keeps showing up around the same parenting triggers, the Repeat Triggers Playbook can help you change the pattern instead of just trying harder.

Fear doesn’t always feel like panic.

Sometimes it feels like discomfort—and when you’ve spent your life surviving, your nervous system can’t tell the difference.

In this episode, we’re unpacking how fear quietly runs the show for cycle-breaking moms, why discomfort gets mistaken for danger, and how fear sneaks into parenting, boundaries, control, and over-functioning… all while calling itself “being responsible.”

If you’ve ever felt that urgent I HAVE TO FIX THIS RIGHT NOW energy—or wondered why relaxing feels unsafe—this one’s for you.

We talk about:

• Why fear often disguises itself as discomfort

• How fear-based parenting keeps your nervous system on edge

• The role of the amygdala and why your brain hits the alarm too fast

• Why discomfort is often a sign of growth, not danger

• What distress tolerance actually is (and why it matters)

• How connection and belonging calm fear more effectively than control

• A simple way to tell the difference between fear and discomfort in real time

This episode is for burned-out, anxious, cycle-breaking moms who are tired of living on high alert and want to parent—and live—from presence instead of panic.

You’re not broken.
Your nervous system is trying to protect you.
And fear doesn’t get to be in charge.

Repeat Triggers Playbook

Free Quiz

The Body Keeps Score Book

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Have you ever noticed how you start pulling back when nothing is technically wrong?

No conflict.
No criticism.
Nothing bad actually happened.

And yet your body is already bracing. Your chest tightens. Your brain plans an exit. You stay busy, stay quiet, or disappear just enough to feel safe.

In this episode, we’re talking about the fear of being seen — where it comes from, why disappearing can feel safer, and the real cost of staying hidden.

This isn’t about communicating better or forcing vulnerability. It’s about understanding how your nervous system learned to protect you, and why retreating is often a trigger response, not a personal flaw.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why your body can feel unsafe even when nothing is “wrong”

• How retreating, staying surface-level, or getting busy can be stress responses

• Why avoidance feels safe short term — but leads to disconnection over time

• How discomfort isn’t always danger (sometimes it’s just unfamiliar)

• What it can look like to stay present without fixing or performing

If you often pull away when things feel tender — you’re not broken. Your body learned this somewhere, and it makes sense.

Support mentioned:

• Free Stress Style Quiz — to understand how your nervous system responds under stress without shame

• Repeat Trigger Playbook — for when disappearing or retreating is a repeat trigger point you can’t seem to stop once it starts

You don’t owe vulnerability to unsafe people.
But staying hidden has a cost — and you deserve connection that doesn’t require you to disappear to be safe.

Thanks for being here. You’re not alone.

Full Show Notes

If your goals, routines, and fresh starts keep falling apart—this episode is for you. Jessica dives deep into why strategy doesn’t stick when your nervous system doesn’t feel safe. Especially for moms navigating burnout and overwhelm, we explore what survival mode really looks like in your body, emotions, and behavior—and how to shift out of it. You’ll walk away with realistic, non-fluffy regulation tools, the concept of “capacity math” for your real-life energy, and a powerful reframe: you’re not failing—you’re just dysregulated. This isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about finding safety first, so everything else has a chance to work.

Check out the books HERE

Visit Jessica's Website HERE

January has this weird pressure where we’re supposedly supposed to wake up on January 1st as a brand new person—new habits, new body, new schedule… and for most of us that pressure doesn’t feel motivating. It feels like another thing to fail at.

In this episode, I’m walking you through a gentle, doable reset that doesn’t require burning your life to the ground. We’ll start with what stays (because stability is regulation), then look at what goes (obligations that aren’t yours, unrealistic expectations, and the patterns keeping you stuck), and then we’ll redesign your week around capacity—not productivity.

You’ll also get my simple “regulate before you create” ritual—90 seconds to shift from reaction to choice—so you can make decisions with your nervous system in mind.

Next step: grab a notebook and write: what stays, what goes, what gets redesigned—one small choice at a time.

Timestamps -ish

00:00 — January pressure + why it feels like failure02:22 — Podcast intro + safety/nuance disclaimer03:00 — Why we start with what stays (stability = regulation)03:30 — The 3 “what stays” buckets: values, rhythms, relationships06:50 — Mini exercise: “This year I’m keeping…”07:xx — Affiliate rec: visual timer (Time Timer)09:03 — What goes: releasing without drama09:30 — Bucket 1: obligations that aren’t yours11:21 — Bucket 2: unrealistic expectations + ADHD reality13:46 — Bucket 3: patterns that keep you stuck (choose ONE)18:27 — Redesign your week: output / connection / admin / recovery22:55 — Create margin: one no, one empty night, batching, asking for help25:16 — “If your life is chaos, make it smaller”26:xx — Regulate before you create: the 90-second ritual

Affiliate note: Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share tools I genuinely recommend

Connect With Me:

• ⁠Subscribe ⁠
• Follow ⁠@bestjesscampbell⁠ 

• Time Timer

• Free Stress Style Quiz

  
  

  Questions & Feedback Form

  
  

  Full Show Notes

Summary

In this episode, Jessica Campbell discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing unmet needs, particularly for mothers who are balancing parenting and personal growth. She emphasizes that understanding our needs is crucial for emotional regulation and overall well-being. The conversation explores how intentions can help guide our actions, but they require structure and support to be effective. Jessica provides practical tools for identifying needs, setting intentions, and overcoming common blocks such as guilt and perfectionism. The episode encourages listeners to take small, sustainable steps towards self-care and personal growth.

Takeaways

• You don't need another vision board; you need a nervous system that is not in constant survival mode.
• Unmet needs matter, and intentions often fail without proper structure.
• Recognizing your needs is crucial for emotional regulation.
• You are not too much for having needs in multiple categories.
• Connection is a biological need, not a luxury.
• Intentions without structure are just wishes.
• Small, sustainable changes are more effective than drastic overhauls.
• When you meet your needs, you show up better for others.
• It's not just about discipline; it's about having a structure in place.
• You deserve better support and tools that match your wiring.

Connect With Me:

• ⁠Subscribe ⁠
• Follow ⁠@bestjesscampbell⁠ 
• ⁠Loop Earplugs⁠ (commissionable link)

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Summary

In this conversation, Jessica Campbell explores the complexities of productivity, self-worth, and the importance of connection in our lives. She discusses how traditional metrics of productivity can lead to feelings of emptiness and inadequacy, especially for those with ADHD. The conversation emphasizes the need for a cultural shift towards valuing connection and vulnerability over mere output, advocating for a more compassionate approach to self-care and interpersonal relationships.

Takeaways

• Productivity should not be equated with personal value.
• Human beings thrive on connection, not just output.
• ADHD can complicate traditional productivity measures.
• Cultural shifts are leading to a desire for deeper connections.
• Rest and self-care are essential for emotional health.
• Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.
• Connection can be built in small, everyday moments.
• Rethinking productivity metrics can lead to greater fulfillment.
• Emotional debt can drain focus and creativity.
• Connection practices can enhance overall well-being.

Connect With Me:

• ⁠Subscribe ⁠
• Follow ⁠@bestjesscampbell⁠ 
• ⁠Loop Earplugs⁠ (commissionable link)
• ⁠The Repeat Triggers Playbook⁠

⁠All Shownotes Blogs

Motherhood is shifting in 2026—and if you feel it in your body, you’re not imagining it. Parent mental health is becoming a public health conversation, loneliness is changing family dynamics, “gentle parenting” is moving toward kind-but-firm limits, tech boundaries are turning into family values, and AI is trying to become the village (with real risks).

In this episode, I break down the biggest 2026 parenting trends from multiple sources and what Pinterest searches reveal about what moms are craving: safety, softness, and real support. Plus: simple tools you can use this week.

Connect With Me:

• Subscribe 

• Follow @bestjesscampbell 

• Loop Earplugs (commissionable link)
• $10 Off Your First KiwiCo Crates

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Multiple Sources Include:

• U.S. Surgeon General / HHS guidance re: parent well-being + child well-being

• Gallup reporting on mental health ratings

• American Psychological Association “Crisis of Connection” theme

• Talker Research re: parenting style shifts / hybrid parenting conversation

• American Academy of Pediatrics + HealthyChildren.org guidance on family media plans

• HHS guidance on youth + social media (reinforcing boundaries + modeling)

• Spring Health trends: AI use + continuous care models

• TIME / PolitiFact / UNICEF: AI companions/toys, safety + development concerns

• Lyra Health: burnout trends + mental health leave patterns

• Pinterest Predicts 2026: self-preservation/escapism/nonconformity framing + trend signals

If motherhood made you feel like a background character, this one’s for you. You’re not crazy. You’re evolving. Let’s talk matrescence, martyrdom, and taking your main-character energy back.

Summary

This conversation explores the transformative journey of motherhood, focusing on the concept of matrescence, the identity shifts that come with becoming a mother, and the challenges faced during this transition. The discussion highlights the importance of self-care, vulnerability, and rediscovering personal passions while navigating the complexities of parenting. The speaker shares personal experiences with postpartum challenges and the impact of coaching on family dynamics, emphasizing the need for mothers to find their voice and let go of control to foster healthier relationships.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome

05:07 Understanding Matrescence

08:20 The Challenges of Early Motherhood

11:11 Identity Shifts and Self-Care

14:12 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energy

17:07 Personal Journeys Through Motherhood

19:48 Navigating Postpartum Experiences

22:44 Burnout and Finding Purpose

27:33 Emotional Awareness and Coaching

30:40 Letting Go of Control

32:20 The Maternal Wall and Expectations

35:05 Rediscovering Passions Through Writing

38:55 Transformative Impact on Family Dynamics

41:18 Shifting Perspectives on Motherhood

44:12 The Pursuit of Happiness

46:22 Embracing Vulnerability and Resilience

49:37 Finding Your Voice in Motherhood

51:54 Building a Supportive Community for Moms

52:24 Embracing Self-Care and Personal Growth

Connect with Sarah:

• ⁠Instagram: parenting presently⁠    
• ⁠Website: parentingpresently.com